Natural weight loss products fill the market, but just because a weight loss aid is "natural", it does not mean that it is completely safe, nor is it a sure thing that it will help your weight loss efforts in the long run. The truth is, some very popular natural weight loss products pose some health risks, and even though they might stimulate quick weight loss at the beginning, in the long run they can actually cause you to gain weight.
The biggest problems are with the natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants. Natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants work very much like stimulant drugs, and they have the same risks.
Caffeine, ma huang (also known as ephedra), guarana, kola nut, and yerba mate' are the most popular of the natural products that act as stimulants. All of these have very strong stimulant effect when taken in the doses typically recommended for weight loss. The effects of these products are very much like the effects of amphetamine drugs. Although most people know that amphetamine use can be risky, some will assume incorrectly that a natural product will be safe.
It is strongly suggested that you not use any form of stimulant as a weight loss aid. This is for two reasons. First, stimulants, whether natural products or drugs, have the potential risks of stroke, high blood pressure, elevation of the heart rate, and sleep disorders. The second reason is that in spite of the fact that stimulants can increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss at first, in the long run they will likely cause you to gain weight.
Early on when taking stimulants, the effect is an increase in the production of adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that essentially speeds up the body by increasing heart rate and respiration and elevating blood pressure. An increase in adrenaline will speed up the metabolism and cause an increase in fat burning. These effects will only last for a short time though. In a matter of a few weeks, the body's ability to produce adrenaline will become burned out, and as adrenaline levels start to fall off, the metabolic rate and fat burning will begin to slow down.
The fall in adrenaline levels is not the only problem, though. Stimulants cause the adrenals to produce another hormone in large quantities, called cortisol. Cortisol causes you to gain weight and accumulate fat in the lower abdomen. Cortisol production in the adrenals can be kept up for much longer than adrenaline production. A first, the adrenaline production will overcome the fat-storing effects of cortisol and fast weight loss occurs. Over time though, cortisol production will overcome the declining effects of adrenaline, and weight gain is the inevitable result.
If you stop taking stimulants during the stage when adrenaline can still be produced, the cortisol effects will typically outlast the adrenaline effects, so rapid weight gain often follows sudden discontinuation of stimulants. One way or the other though, if you use stimulants to promote weight loss, sooner or later the effects of cortisol will win out over the effects of adrenaline and weight loss will stop and weight gain will begin.
It might be tempting to purchase a natural weight loss aid that contains stimulants due to the promises of quick weight loss, but in the long run all of these products are counterproductive and may endanger your health. Regardless of whether a product is natural or not, the use of stimulants for weight loss is best to be avoided.
The biggest problems are with the natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants. Natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants work very much like stimulant drugs, and they have the same risks.
Caffeine, ma huang (also known as ephedra), guarana, kola nut, and yerba mate' are the most popular of the natural products that act as stimulants. All of these have very strong stimulant effect when taken in the doses typically recommended for weight loss. The effects of these products are very much like the effects of amphetamine drugs. Although most people know that amphetamine use can be risky, some will assume incorrectly that a natural product will be safe.
It is strongly suggested that you not use any form of stimulant as a weight loss aid. This is for two reasons. First, stimulants, whether natural products or drugs, have the potential risks of stroke, high blood pressure, elevation of the heart rate, and sleep disorders. The second reason is that in spite of the fact that stimulants can increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss at first, in the long run they will likely cause you to gain weight.
Early on when taking stimulants, the effect is an increase in the production of adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that essentially speeds up the body by increasing heart rate and respiration and elevating blood pressure. An increase in adrenaline will speed up the metabolism and cause an increase in fat burning. These effects will only last for a short time though. In a matter of a few weeks, the body's ability to produce adrenaline will become burned out, and as adrenaline levels start to fall off, the metabolic rate and fat burning will begin to slow down.
The fall in adrenaline levels is not the only problem, though. Stimulants cause the adrenals to produce another hormone in large quantities, called cortisol. Cortisol causes you to gain weight and accumulate fat in the lower abdomen. Cortisol production in the adrenals can be kept up for much longer than adrenaline production. A first, the adrenaline production will overcome the fat-storing effects of cortisol and fast weight loss occurs. Over time though, cortisol production will overcome the declining effects of adrenaline, and weight gain is the inevitable result.
If you stop taking stimulants during the stage when adrenaline can still be produced, the cortisol effects will typically outlast the adrenaline effects, so rapid weight gain often follows sudden discontinuation of stimulants. One way or the other though, if you use stimulants to promote weight loss, sooner or later the effects of cortisol will win out over the effects of adrenaline and weight loss will stop and weight gain will begin.
It might be tempting to purchase a natural weight loss aid that contains stimulants due to the promises of quick weight loss, but in the long run all of these products are counterproductive and may endanger your health. Regardless of whether a product is natural or not, the use of stimulants for weight loss is best to be avoided.
About the Author:
Dr. George Best has been assisting people with weight loss since 1992. To access additional resources, you can visit his website for advice on a natural weight loss plan.
